Foldable rack



Nov. 21, 1950 s. M. SCHERSTUHL FOLDABLE RACK Filed May 18, 1948 INVENTOR; SYDNEY M, SCHERSTUHI.

A TTORNEW FIG. 5.

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Patented Nov. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OLDA AC Sydney M. Scherstuhl, St. Louis, Mo.

Application-v May. 18, 1948, Serial No. 27,743

3 Claims. -1

This invention relates to improvements, in foldable racks, and more particularly to an improved light weight rack structure of readily portable nature, the elements of. which are so constructed and arranged as to enable folding of the major elements of the rack while in assembled relation, and providing for their assembly, when folded, into a unit of minimum dimensions.

It is appreciated that many rack structures for drying and various other purposes have heretofore been devised. However so far as is known to this applicant, all such structures are objectionably bulky, being of such weight and dimensions even when collapsed on knocked down, so as to preclude their inclusion in personal baggage in traveling. Also, many such devices require an inordinate time for erection and fold ing. It is accordingly a major object of the present invention to realize a light weight, extremely compact device for the general purpose noted, and which may be erected or disassembled in a few seconds, all without involving any special tools or skill.

Yet another object of the invention is attained in a. foldable rack structure of such nature that the frame thereof may be readily supported from a wall register or other grille-like structure, preferably one normally presented in a vertical plane, and the rack being of wide adaptation as to nature of the support with which it may be utilized.

Yet another object is attained in a low cost, light weight rack, as for the drying of smaller garments, the structure requiring no screw, hooks, nor any separable fastening elements whatsoever, and which may be folded into a compact linear package which need be of no greater width than that of a flat strip stock of which the rack is preferably formed.

A still further and important objectiveiof the invention is realized in a rack structure of the general, type noted, and which is formed of a material which precludes any staining or rusting, effects, with consequent damage to the articles of clothing supported thereon.

The foregoing and numerous other objects will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective elevational view of the assembled rack as erected for use, and as mounted on.a wall register of prevalent type;

Fig. 2,;is aside elevation of the rack ofFig l, in which certain elements are shown in section;

y between members it and I2.

Fig. 3 is a view of the several elements of the rack as disassembled, with some such elements in folded relation, to illustrate thev com-pact package character of the device;

Fig. 4 is a top or plan view of the forwardmarginal extremity of the rack as erected, andshow ing a somewhat modified form, and

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional View as taken along line 55 of Fig. 4-.

Referring now by charactersof, reference to the drawing, and first to Fig. 1,ther eis indicatedat WR, a prevalent type of register such as employed in duct outlets and provided-with fixed or movable grille-forming elements or louvres L arranged in spaced superposed relation across the width of the register. A closure control-C isconventionally provided in registers ofthis type,- and is included merely for completeness, but with a later explanation of a relation of at least one of the rack elements thereto.

The major parts of the frame structure ofthe rack include a normally horizontal side member id at the right hand side, and a similar although slightly different such member I l at the left side of. the assembly. Theseside members arebri g d in the regions of their forwardmost extremities by a front member [2. Connection is made-between members II and 12 as by a hinge of vertical pin type indicated at It. It shouldbejnoted as a preference that hinge {Bis locatedsubstantially at the forwardmost left hand corner of the frame It, II, [2, and that a similar, and virtually identical hinge M is located somewhatrearwardly of the right hand front frame corner member This difference in hinge location will best appear from Fig. 3 and will be later referred to.

It is a preference for compactness, rigidity; and light weight of the assembly to employ a flat strip metal stock, the proportions of which are about as shown in the drawing, it being understood however that many of the novel principles; of construction of the rack maybe embodiedby-utilizing stock of other than the section shown and referred to. Exact materials to be employed are, of course, partly a matter of choice. it being a present preference to utilize a metal of light weight non-corroding character, such as aluminum alloy strip. Other non-rusting materials of sufiicient rigidity may obviously be employed, and these may consist of non-metallic stock, for-e xample, certain of the laminate plastics.

Pivotally secured to the side members It and H arestrut members respectively; indicated at- 15 and ii, the former being pivotally connected as through a rivet I6 to the side member H, and similarly the strut I! is pivotally connected as at I8 through a suitable rivet, pin or the like, to the side member it]. Each of the strut members l and I! is provided with a reentrant, normally upwardly curved arcuate terminal 26, these terminals being formed in such manner that the forward edge of one of the louvres L engages the notch or slot formed between the hook-like end 26, and the adjacent full-width body of the strut, the end of which is thus seated against one of the fixed louvres of the register or other selected support.

Each of the side members In and i i is provided with a hook-like terminal 2! of a generally arouate form in side elevation, and provided with a notch 22 intermediate its undersurface, and a notch 23 in its upper surface adjacent the fullwidth portion of the side member. As will best appear from Fig. 2, these notches engage opposite extremities of a pair of adjacent spaced louvre elements, thus providing a sturdy support for the inner or free ends of the side members.

To provide an augmented length of drying support, there are shown in the present example three bridging members or cross strips, these including a rearmost such member 24, the nature of which best appears in Fig. 3. This is provided with a pair of downwardly opening notches 25 and a widened center notch 25, the latter proter if desired, being also notched so as to provide for a flush interfitting relation between the bridge members and the side pieces. It will be noted that the member 2 serves as a rear structural counterpart of the forward member 12 so as to provide a fully rectangular frame forwardly of the hook members 21. Additional bridge members 21 and 23 are provided and are of somewhat greater length than the member 24 so as to provide extensions endwise of each of these members and laterally beyond the frame, for further augmented drying area as will readily appear from Fig. 1. Notches 39 are formed in each of members 21 and 28 for a purpose identical with the notches 25 above described. It is a distinct preference to space the notches Si in at least one of the bridge members, sa 27, just slightly greater than the normal inside spacing of side members H! and H. Due to this provision, when the parts are assembled as shown at Fig. 1, tightness of parts and rigidity of the frame are assured since the bridge pieces 24, 21 and 28 are thus kept under a very slight endwise compression.

The facilities of the present assembly for ready folding in a minimum of time and without tools, and similarly providing for a quick and easy reassembly, will best appear from the composite View of Fig. 3. Disassembly of the erected rack of Fig. 1 is accomplished by very slightly lifting the forward margin of the rack to enable withdrawal of the free ends 29 of struts I5 and [1. When this is done, the horizontal frame of the rack is tilted downwardly in front, and the hook terminals 21 withdrawn from their position beit ,into overlying relation to side member I0. With the side members and struts thus related, the assembly l5-l l is folded about the hinge l3 to bring it into overlying register with the front element l2, followed by similar actuation of the now registering parts li-lfl. It will now appear, particularly from Fig. 3, that the slightly more rearward location of hinge l4 enables the superposed members to lie in close adjacence and in compact assembly, exhibiting a width not appreciably exceeding that of the fiat stock of which the frame is formed. The bridge pieces 24, 21 and 28 may for packaging either for shipment or portability, be brought into overlying relation to the assembly just described and may be disposed in a suitable fabric sheath or envelope (not shown), which being thus packaged, conduces to ease in carrying.

A somewhat modified form is shown by Fig. 4, in which there is provided a two-part front member generally indicated at [2A and consisting of companion elements variably telescoped, the outermost of which is indicated (Fig. 5) as IZAI, slidable within which is an elongate member IZA2. Similar telescoping bridge pieces (not shown) may be of a section identical with that of Fig. 5, thus providing for a width adjustment of the device made greater or diminished in width according to the different dimensions of grille structure WR from which it is to be supported. In the modification, hinge structures 13A are shown at the left, and MA at the right of Fig. 4. The strut members |5A and HA are or may be identical with the elements I 5 and H heretofore described.

It will have appeared that the rack described, presents unusual facilities for folding into a compact unit or package; that it may be of light weight construction, is readily erected and as readily collapsed, all in full realization of the several objects hereinabove expressed as well as others implied from the description.

Although the improvements have been described by considerable detail of reference to a selected example and a modification thereof, numerous variants may be made in details of structure and arrangement of parts without departure from the full intended scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. A foldable rack adapted for the drying of garments and the like, and consisting of a plurality of elements, these including a pair of side members and a front member, said members being horizontal in their positions of use, a strut pivotally connected to each of the side members, a plurality of cross bars having means for interfitting engagement with the side members, a supporting terminal on each of the side members and each of the struts adapted to engage a register, and a hinged connection between each of the said side members and the front member, providing a normally vertical hinge axis, the hinge axes being respectively located in a more closely forward position on one side of the rack than on the other side thereof, whereby to permit one of the side members to be folded into overlying but spaced parallel relation to the front member, with the other side member therebetween.

2. A fcldable rack adapted for the drying of garments and the like, and consisting of a plurality of substantially flat elements, these including a pair of side members and a front member, said members being horizontal in their positions of use, a strut pivotally connected to each of the side members, between its ends, a plurality of slotted cross bars interfitted with the side members, a supporting hook-like terminal on each of the said side members and on each of the struts, hinge means connecting the side members and the front member, and providing a normally vertical hinge axis between each side member and the front member, the hinge axes being respectively located in a more closely forward position on one side of the rack than on the other side thereof, whereby to permit one of the side members to be folded into overlying but spaced parallel relation to the front member, with the other side member therebetweeri.

3. The combination and arrangement of elements as described by claim 2, but further characterized in that one or more of said members is of two-part telescoping construction whereby.

through adjustment of the telescoping members, at least one dimension of said rack may be varied.

SYDNEY M. SCHERSTUHL,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

